A/N: Getting in the spirit this Yuletide Season in true Death Eater Express style, I've decided to post 12 Days worth of Death Eater Drabbles. Each day will see a new, unrelated, Christmas-themed drabble about a different Death Eater. I hope you enjoy them. Much love and Happy Holidays! xx-Kitten.

12 Days of Death Eaters

By Kittenshift17

Chapter 1: Seating Charts and Secret Santas

Rodolphus Lestrange

"Is he serious?" Rodolphus Lestrange leaned over to whisper in his wife's ear, both of them eyeing the Dark Lord like he'd grown an extra head.

He'd just announced his desire to initiate a circle-wide Secret Santa exchange between his most loyal Death Eaters.

"Erm…" Bella murmured in reply, tipping her head to one side as though changing the angle she looked at the man might somehow make it more or less clear that he, surely, must be jesting.

"My Lord?" Severus asked, the faintest of creases appearing between his dark eyebrows.

Ah, Severus. He could always be counted on to ensure clarity from the Dark Lord.

"Ssssomething unclear, Sssseverussss?" the Dark Lord purred, raising one dark eyebrow of his own.

He'd performed some kind of magic to regain the disgustingly delicious good looks of his prime years recently and it was still taking Rodolphus some time to adjust to the notion of their Dark Lord not bearing the terrible snake-like features he'd grown accustomed to since his most recent escape from Azkaban prison

"You wish to initiate a Secret Santa, my Lord?" Severus asked, "Would that be…. Voluntary participation?"

The Dark Lord's cold, ringing laughter was boisterously loud in the long hall within Malfoy Manor where they conducted their meeting.

"Voluntary, Severus? Come now, I am no fool. How many of you would willingly sign on to play my little game this festive season if I allowed you the chance not to participate? You are all hardly the Christmas type," the Dark Lord continued to chuckle, "No. You will all be participating. I have a list of who will by gifting whom."

The wizard proceeded to pull a stack of blood-red envelopes from within the pocket of his robes before he began passing them out.

"It's like the seating chart all over again," Rabastan leaned over to snigger very softly in Rodolphus's ear.

The snort escaped him, unbidden, at the memory of the fucking seating chart for their meetings. Based upon rank and who had most pleased or displeased him, their Dark Lord had designed and frequently updated the circle's Seating Chart based on who must sit where when in his presence like this. He could often be heard muttering about it, in between complaints and curses about Potter, and it was a source of great amusement between Rodolphus and his brother.

Rodolphus watched on as the envelopes were all passed out amongst followers, everyone looking rather uncomfortable over the idea of buying a gift for any of their fellow followers. The Dark Lord surely must be unhinging. He was certainly a far cry, these days, from the man he'd been when Bellatrix, and Rodolphus by association, had so fallen under his spell.

"My Lord is there to be some sort of… etiquette… to the gift giving process?" Narcissa Malfoy spoke up.

Rodolphus smirked. His sister in law truly did her Black heritage proud with such poise and such questions. He'd been watching her for some time now, since moving into the Manor and indeed, since his escape. Where his own bride was ravaged by the many long years spent in Azkaban, her breathtakingly beautiful visage diminished by the horror of their shared cell, Narcissa was more radiant than ever. And, more importantly, she never waned in her endeavour for all things to be proper, poised and as poignantly pureblooded as possible.

"Ah, my sweet Narcissa," the Dark Lord purred, rounding the table to hand the witch her crimson envelope before cupping her jaw adoringly.

Rodolphus smirked as Lucius's fists tightened in his lap, his back stiffening at the idea of anyone, even the Dark Lord, laying a hand upon his wife.

"We will, of course, observe full Yuletide customs in all things this season," the Dark Lord crooned to the witch, "You will, I do not doubt, dazzle us with your skills as a hostess of fine parties with all the trimmings?"

"Of course, my Lord," Narcissa nodded her head, playing her part well as she allowed her head to rest adoringly in the Dark Lord's hand for a few moments, "Perhaps a tree within the hall here where everyone may deposit their gifts for one another anonymously to ensure the surprise is not spoiled when the gift is opened, my Lord?"

"You think of everything," the Dark Lord praised her and Narcissa's cheeks turned a fine shade of pink that Rodolphus knew stirred many a Death Eater to arduous desire.

Rodolphus accepted his own envelope from the Dark Lord with a nod and a tight smile, trying very hard to avoid looking at his younger brother, who seemed to be having a good deal of trouble holding back his laughter.

"Ssssomething amuses you, Rabastan?" the Dark Lord asked, obviously noticing.

"I am easily amused, my Lord," Rabastan offered with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, small minds often are," the Dark Lord replied before handing him his envelope.

Across the table, Rodolphus spotted Severus in the process of opening his letter to learn the victim of his gift-giving ineptitude, no doubt. A chuckle found its way free of him as well when he saw Snape's eyes flash in what looked like disappointment, followed by annoyance.

A chuckle bubbled free of him at the idea that he suspected the Dark Lord's twisted humour had found them paired with their least favourite associates. Meaning Severus had likely just discovered that he would be required to shop for Bella.

Opening his own letter, Rodolphus's laughter grew when he spotted the name Lysander Yaxley. Of course it was Yaxley. The man who'd been a thorn in his side since they'd been teenagers and Yaxley had challenged Rodolphus's betrothal to Bella. Oh, but Rodolphus knew just what to get the git.

The heart of a virgin on a silver platter. Yalexy's daughter, perhaps?